Shoe



' P i 1930- L. L. GANT 1,754,996

SHOE

Filed Aug. 9. 1927 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 STATES LUCIUS L. GANT, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA SHOE Application filed. August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,805.

This invention relates to foot covering of the kind embodying a stout sole and an upper adapted to be secured upon the foot by means of lacing.

The invention provides a shoe in which the toe portion of the upper is adjustable within certain limits to vary the length and width to suit the foot, and thereby assure ease and comfort to the wearer and obviate painful pressure on tender places such as corns and bunions.

While the drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet 7 15 specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit 2 thereof. e

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawing hereto attached, in which,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a shoe embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical, central longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts comprising the upper loose and partly spread.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawing by 5 like reference characters.

The shoe in its general formation is not unlike the shoe as ordinarily constructed, since it embodies a sole, an upper and a tongue for extending across the opening formed between the quarters, and adapted to be connected by means of a lace.

The numeral 1 designates the sole and 2 the quarters. The vamp includes the toe piece 3, side pieces 4, and flaps 5, which are stitched to the side pieces 4 and have their rear ends overlapped by the forward ends of the quarters 2. The side pieces 4 are stitched to the quarters 2, and are separated from the toe piece 3. The parts of the upper bordering upon the opening are provided with eyelets to receive the lace 6 and these eyelets are formed in the quarters 2, flaps 5 and side pieces t, and when the lace is tightened after being passed through the eyelets the shoe is drawn snug about the foot, as indicated most clearly in Figure 1 of the drawing. A tongue 7 is provided to extend across the opening beneath the lacing, and its lower end is overlapped by the toe piece 3 and is connected thereto by means of a fastening 8 which may consist of a ribbon or lace passed through openings formed in the overlapping portions of the tongue and toe piece. The lace 6 passes through openings formed in the tongue 7' adjacent its forward end as shown most clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings, hence when the lace is drawn to close the upper about the foot the toe piece 3 which is attached to the tongue is also drawn to obtain a neat and close fit over the toe. 7

The invention is applicable to any type of shoe and enables the length thereof to be varied within certain limits, as well as the width across the toe of the foot, and this provides for adjusting the shoe to regulate the pressure, whereby painful pressure is relieved by adjusting the lace to accommodate the length and width of the shoe to the foot. In the case of a swollen foot, the shoe may be contracted and worn for a short time to reduce the swelling preliminary to drawing a dress shoe upon the foot.

It is observed that the tongue 7 may form a continuation of the toe piece 3 instead of being separate from and attached thereto. In the same manner allowance may be made for the heel to admit of adjustment when required.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A shoe comprising a sole, and an upper including quarters secured to the sole and having forward portions spaced above the sole, side pieces secured to the sole and lower side edges of the forward portions of said quarters and extending forwardly from the quarters and having their front ends spaced from each other, a toe piece secured to said sole between the front ends of said side pieces and having its sides free from the side pieces,

fla s secured along the upper side edges of the si e pieces in front of said quarters and having their rear ends overlapped by but free from the forward ends of the quarters, a tongue disposed beneath and overlapped along its sides by the side pieces, flaps and quarters, and having its front end extending beneath and loosely connected to said toe piece, and a lace passed transversely through the tongue rearwardly of the toe piece, the side pieces, flaps, and'quarters being formed with eyes to receive the lace.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature;

LUCIUS L. GANT. [L.S.] 

